Reports have emerged that miners trapped in an abandoned South African mine are resorting to extreme measures to survive. Underground for weeks, many have been consuming vinegar and toothpaste to stave off hunger and dehydration, raising concerns about their deteriorating health. Volunteers, organized into groups of 50, have been working tirelessly to bring the miners to safety, but they face significant challenges. According to local reports, it takes up to an hour to retrieve a single miner, and many are too weak to exit the mine on their own. The situation has grown dire, with volunteers and relatives pleading with authorities for intervention. Despite the urgency, the government has refused to assist, claiming the miners are “criminals” engaged in illegal mining, part of a broader operation to shut down the practice.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, the Minister in the Presidency, has emphasized that no aid will be provided to those involved in illegal mining, insisting that “criminals are not to be helped, but persecuted.” In response, families and local residents have taken to the streets, staging protests near the mine site, some holding placards reading “Smoke ANC out” and “Down with Minister in Presidency.” Meanwhile, the police have cordoned off the entrances and exits, determined to force the miners to emerge. This operation, known as “Vala Umgodi” or “Close the Hole,” is part of the government’s efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, which has become a significant problem in South Africa, costing the country millions in lost revenue each year.
While the government and law enforcement stand firm in their stance, many volunteers and locals argue that the miners are simply desperate individuals trying to survive. “For many of them, it’s the only way they know how to put food on the table,” said Thabane, a volunteer who has been helping since the start of the week. Illegal miners, known as “zama zama,” or “take a chance,” often spend months underground in hazardous conditions, relying on a small underground economy that supplies food, cigarettes, and other necessities. Despite the risks, many miners have no other choice but to dig for gold in abandoned mines, driven by poverty and the collapse of local industries. “This is tantamount to murder,” said Lebogang Maiyane, another volunteer, accusing the government of neglecting the basic right to life for those trapped beneath the surface.
